Discover the Magic of Basswood Carving Blocks
                     BASSWOOD BLANKS 
(CARVING): THE ULTIMATE 
GUIDE TO WOODWORKERS 
AND ARTISTS
When it comes to fine woodworking and sculptural projects, few 
materials are as celebrated as basswood for carving. Having just 
found the pleasure of bending wood or a time-blackened 
lumberman creating your child of exquisiteness, basswood with 
its unmatched soft and workability and predictable grain is a 
near-universal favorite with carving artists. On top of that, 
premium sources like Exotic Wood Zone provide high-quality 
basswood carving wood and blanks that help makers bring their 
creative visions to life.
The basis of the appeal of basswood is its workability. Basswood can be 
positioned as having a smooth, consistent texture, and straight grain, 
meaning that the material is easily cut by any tool and one suffers minimal 
opposition. It results in a reduced amount of hand fatigue, cleaner cuts, 
and it is easier to carve depicted on a small figurine or larger reliefs.
For these reasons, woodworkers repeatedly turn to 
basswood carving blocks for both practice and finished work. The 
predictability of its grain and its ability to be carved in great detail makes it 
a good way to begin the carving practice, and it is and has frequently been 
suggested to dilettantes as a receptive-to-first-time wood. Guilds to 
woodcarving maintain basswood is one of the softest wood types used in 
carving and therefore easy to make precision cuts even with simple carving 
tools.
WHY BASSWOOD IS THE BEST 
TO USE IN CARVERS.
One of the advantages of using basswood is its availability in a variety of 
basswood wood carving blocks. Out of smaller whittling stocks suitable to make 
figuratives and decorative carving, and bigger turning work to use in bowls and spindles, 
is a size and shape suit to nearly all purposes:
 Small Carving Blocks: These are handy to whittle and as practice blocks, and also to use 
anatomically. They are ideally used when you require probing information such as features of 
the face or maybe decorative patterns.
 Larger Basswood Carving Block Pieces: Ideal for projects that require more material like 
relief panels, larger sculptures, or turned items.
 Pack Sets: No matter your skill level, sets of basswood carving wood blocks allow you to 
experiment with different project sizes and techniques.
The basswood provided by natural wood suppliers such as Exotic Wood Zone are usually 
kiln-dried and with a uniform amount of moisture in them, this has helped warping to a 
minimum and helped your blanks remain in applied position when you are carving it. 
Also, its light, nearly creamy shade provides a great surface on which to apply the stain, 
paint and finish after the carving is completed.
TYPES OF BASSWOOD BLANKS 
YOU’LL FIND
When selecting basswood for carving, consider both the size of your 
project and your skill level. Amateurs usually consider smaller blocks 
first, which are easy to work with and also forget when you use a tool 
incorrectly, whereas an expert carver may pick a big blank of leather 
to work and make something more ambitious.
Direction and consistency of grain is also important. Basswood is 
preferable and makes it easier to work with because it can be carved, 
has a greater capacity to capture detail and hardly chips or splinters 
when performing an intricate cut. Experienced carvers like the ease 
with which the basswood accepts fine details particularly in the case 
of features such as expressions on a face, complex patterns or relief 
depth.
HOW TO SELECT THE RIGHT 
BASSWOOD IN YOUR PROJECT.
Although the woods of ebony and rosewood and cocobolo which people 
classify as Exotic Woods have attractive features because of their 
distinctive appearance and their extreme durability, basswood serves as 
the best choice for carving work because it enables sculptors to create 
high-quality results through simple handling of the material. The material 
lacks the striking appearance of burl wood and the deep hues found in 
certain exotic hardwoods, yet its dependable performance and easy 
handling abilities make the wood essential for use in the carving industry.
Actually, most carvers will cut blanks of basswood, and practice their skills 
before applying that learning to more difficult species of wood, or even 
pricier ones. Its softness also complements hand tools as well as power 
carving equipment and it is versatile in a variety of approaches.
BASSWOOD AND EXOTIC WOODS: A 
BALANCE OF QUALITY AND 
ACCESSIBILITY
If you're new to carving and wondering where to start, a 
basswood carving block is an ideal first material. Get papers of the 
required size, small blocks to make figures with and larger blanks 
should you consider bowl making or other things of decoration, and 
find a good working place.
To start to experiment with the world of woodcarving, all we have to 
deal with is a carving knife or gouge of good caliber, good lighting, 
and a stable bench. Confidence will teach you that basswood will 
continue to be a reliable ingredient in your inventory, not only 
because it is an easy material to work with, but also because of the 
exquisite finish you will be able to create with its help.
HOW TO START WITH YOUR 
FIRST BLANK OF BASSWOOD.